Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-15
TWO PALMS.

suoCle charm, Tue result OF the expert
ence, the rare good taste, OF the host.
ess. Her salons were lar. e. Her
trained sense OF artistic harmony had
arranged the drawing-room suite in.
to a series of delightful interiors;
Artists found nothing to suggest in
the appointment OF these restful, ele.
CANT apartments.
The hostess was awoman of brains,
a widow, and forty eight. She spent
her days in a mixture OF noble and
frivolous undertakings, maintaining
a golden poise somewhere between so.
ciety and philanthropy, rendering ex.
cellent service to both. Unrecognized
genius, aristocratic i'm pecuniosity, I'm,
lowered beauty, found their way to
herpresence and her kindness as easily
as fashion and fame.
On one midwlnter night the soft
lights glowed through the length and
breadth OF her house. Clad in some
stately silk, Mrs Van der Venter stood
at the salon door, while liveried
footman announced the arriving
guests. Her cordial smile and warm
hand-shake welcome each one singly
and presently the hum of converse
ton rose to substantial measure
All had arrived but one, Miss Lisette
De~ing, who was finally announced
by the footman. She entered hastily
and was affectionately greeted.
"Forgive me if l am late," she muir,
INJURED.
'Orly late enough to give addition.
al point to your coming" smiled
back Mrs. Van der Venter.
As Emusic" had been mentioned on
the cards, the guests soon composed
themselves in attitudes of attention.
Music at Mrs. Van der Venter's
was always OF a kind to dispel
ennui. A noted violinist, a celebrat.
ed vocalist, q great pianist, perform
ed in turn. Faint and weIl-bred ap-
plause repaid each artist for the ef-
tort.
Then Mrs. Van der Venter stated
that she held surprise in re-
serve in the person of Mr.. Sutherland,
the famous chiromancer. Moving to
the entrance hall, Mrs. Van der Ven
tor glided through the portiere. She
soon re ppeared with her hand on
the arm Of young blonde man who
looked quite harmless and benevolent,
which surprised those who had heard
OF his extraordinary, one might say
his occult, gifts. To a close observe r
certain crafty lines at the corners OF
the eyes indicated habits Of 0 serva-
tion and calculation that had become
second nature. He had in q brief
time, through the Unsuitable desire OF
human beings to hear about them
selves, risen to be at once a social lion
and IL mystic power.
For this reason, when Mrs. Van del
Venter introduced him to her friends,
each person prepared for the enticine
ordeal OF g. moral scanning. Hands
Of all shapes and sizes were barred
The left escapes the marks OF rough
usage and change, so chiromancy
elects the left hand for study.
An eager crowd clustered quickly
about Mr.. Sutherland. One man only
a sarcastic smile curving his lips
stood aloof. A tall, striking figure
with black hair tinged with gray
Not height aloneg gave him distinction,
hut q certain naughty bearing, which
oanished when he talked. He looked
So1t IL
reading from hands was q very good
sport for 81 lot of girls, but ne did not
dream OF joining the students of the
new lore.
His face darkened into a. scowl when
Lisette Dewing entered the group
about the sofa. Fills chances had
wandered constantly in her direction
during the evening, but he had not ap.
preached her. Her interest in him
was expressed apparently in one little
cold stiff bow.
A popular society girl, without
much intellect, was the first to pre-
sent her hand. Mr.. Sutherland took
it dainty, and cast q swift, keen
glance at her smiling, thoughtIess face
His remarks were evidently satisfac
tory, in spite of the knowing smiles
which passed among the listeners
When he had finished, she rose in g
autter and joined the sarcastic OBJ
server on the hearth. .r.:
''Oh, Mr.. Burlingame, it's positively
awful! He's so true! He told me my
faults in a way that quite frightened
me-"
What did he tell you. Miss Man
toni" queried Mr.. Burlingame. 49,
ooh, he said that I had very
sound nature. That I would never
do anybody any harm, because ]
couldn't; and that's awfully true, you
know. And that I had never been in
love, and would make somebody some
day a very good wife, and that
would surly marry RICH And-oh,
yes! he tried very hard to trace it, he
did indeed, but he had to give it up,
and tell me that my head line seemed
to be scattered or dissipated, for it
vanished into nothing. Isn't that
wonderfully .* Ill. 'g4zg s4
The last remarks almost converted
Mr.. :Burlingame. Dear Dolly Man
toms head line had never appeared to
anybody. /. ~ .g.sT
''He certainly seems to have made
points, he responded, ambiguously.
"You must let him analyze you, :
Mr.. Burlingame. You are such a rid
die to US girls, you know. You will,
won't you?" #s
Mr.. Burlingame merely smiled, as q
burst OF daughter rose from the crowd.
r. u = ~ q ~. IL